The Cross and the First Day of Lent

Today is the first day of Lent and given the war declared on the cross, I thought reading the lyrics of one of my favorite hymns would be appropriate.

Link: 
http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/r/oruggedc.htm

Words & Music: George Ben­nard, 1913 (MI­DI, score).

The Old Rug­ged Cross was writ­ten in Al­bi­on, Mi­chi­gan. Or Po­ka­gon, Mi­chi­gan. Or Stur­geon Bay, Wis­con­sin. All three towns claim to be the birth­place of this hymn.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain

Please journal your thoughts and take some time to contemplate, think, and meditate on these words given what's happened in the world the last couple of months.

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2011-2015. Cross at First Landing, Virginia.)